As an example of how my music training informed my scientific inquiry, here’s one of my favorite analogies, which I use to explain what’s missing from the prevalent “free radical” theory of aging, which holds that antioxidants alone (higher doses of vitamin C, for example) can extend the healthy human lifespan: Trying to extend your lifespan by increasing your intake of vitamin C is like trying to improve a Mozart symphony by increasing the number of cello players. The cello is a beautiful instrument, but to improve a Mozart symphony, you need to be a better composer than Mozart. Adding cellos
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